The Three Branches of Government

Social Studies
Grades 4-12

This project was developed as part of the Title III Technology Literacy Challenge Grant’s

Capital Region Collaboration for Technology Education

2002

This graphic was taken from. http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html

Created by Karen (Vessa) Gaul

kgaul@nycap.rr.com

Saint Ambrose / Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany

Introduction

This weblist is intended as a resource for teachers of grade 4-12. Some of the sites contain activities for students and others are to be used for reference.

1. General

a. Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

This informative site is broken down by grade level: k-2, 3-5,6-8, and 9-12. It has easy to read information on almost everything you want to know about government.

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/

b. Branches of Government Chain

This is a site for teachers. It contains a project for a lesson on the three branches of government.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonrepro/lessonplans/profbooks/branchesgovt.htm

2. Legislative Branch

a. How a bill becomes a law

This site is a little dry but it explains all the steps involved. There is also a glossary at the bottom of the page.

http://www.votesmart.org/ce/congresstrack/billtolaw.phtml?titlehead=How+a+Bill+Becomes+a+Law&checking=

b. I’m Just a Bill

This is a Webquest that takes students in grades 3-7 through the process of how a bill becomes a law. There are many activities that include reading, listening to a song, and a game.

http://teach.fhu.edu/technology/EDU506/WebQuests/mrbill/mrbill.html

c. United States Congress

1. Congress for Kids

This site contains a lot of reading. It is more appropriate for 6-8^th graders.

http://www.congressforkids.net/cartoonintro.htm

2. Congress for older students and adults

These are the official sites for the U.S. senate.
http://www.senate.gov/

and the House of Representatives
http://www.house.gov/

d. New York State Legislature

1. New York State Assembly for Kids

This is a great site for kids. It is broken up into k-6 and 7-12. It is very colorful and informative. There is a link to a tour of New York’s Capital.

http://assembly.state.ny.us/kids/

2. New York State Senate for Kids

This is the kids’ page from Senator Schumer’s web site. It is very
basic but does not seem appealing to younger kids.

I think it would be great for students 6-8.
http://schumer.senate.gov/SchumerWebsite/kids/kid-your_government.html

3. Executive Branch

a. The White House for Kids

This site is appealing to kids. It is colorful and easy to navigate through. There is a quiz, timeline, ABC section and many photographs.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/

b. Cabinet

This is a listing of all the departments with their websites. There are two for children.

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/Cabinet.html

c. The head of the Executive Branch

1. Federal Level - President of the United States

This site lists some easy to read facts about the president and a quiz to take afterwards.

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/president.html

2. State Level -Governor of NY

This site lists basic information about our governor. There is a link to the governor’s official page.

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/ExecState.html

d. FBI for kids

This is a great site for students k-5. It is very colorful, informative, and easy to navigate. Information about safety, working dogs, and the FBI are presented with cartoons. There are also games to play

http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm

There is also a link for a site for students 6-12
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/6th12th/6th12th.htm

4. Judicial Branch

a. Supreme Court.

This is the official site for the court. It is appropriate for students 9-12 and as a teacher reference.

http://www.supremecourtus.gov/

b. Local courts

This site gives an overview of the many types of courts in New York

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/JudicialState.html

Extra Sites for Teacher Reference

1. http://www.uncle-sam.com/

2. http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/govframe.html

3. http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/

4. http://teacher.scholastic.com/researchtools/articlearchives/civics/index.htm

5. http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5873/the.htm?tqskip1=1&tqtime=0807&tqskip1=1&tqtime=0809

6. http://www.fedstats.gov/kids.html

Teacher Notes

Process

This weblist will serve as a resource list for students and teachers. There are sites for reference, lessons, and activities. Since this weblist is appropriate for students in grades 4-12 it will be up to the teacher to decide how to use it.

NYS Learning Standards and the National Technology Educational Standards

ELA:

Standard 1: Language for Information and Understanding Students will listen, speak, read, and write for information and understanding. As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information

Social Studies:
Standard 5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of he necessity for establishing governments; the governmental system of the United States and other nations; the united States Constitution; the basic civic values of American constitutional democracy; and the roles, rights, and responsibilities of citizenship, including avenues of participation.

Technology Foundation Standards for Students

Basic operations and concepts

Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
Students are proficient in the use of technology.

Technology research tools

Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks.

Credits and References

Scales http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/JudicialState.html

White House http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/president.html

Capitol http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/government/Congress.html

Graphic Images used on this page courtesy of Microsoft Design Gallery Live